Stormy start to budget session; Oppn demands Maya's scalp

The budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature began on a stormy note on Friday with a vociferous Opposition disrupting Governor B L Joshi's address to the joint sitting of the two Houses inviting a sharp rap from chief minister Mayawati for their act.

As soon as the proceedings started, opposition members were on their feet chanting slogans against the BSP government for what they said its failures on various fronts and demanded its immediate dismissal.

Carrying placards, they said that the state government was neck-deep in corruption and law and order had deteriorated in the state.

Prices of essential commodities were sky-rocketing and atrocities were being perpetrated on women in the state, they chanted and asked the Governor to sack the government.

Some opposition members threw paper balls and trooped into the Well as the Governor started reading his speech.

As the uproar continued, the Governor read only the first and last lines of his address before leaving.

Chief minister Mayawati condemned the behaviour of the Opposition terming it as "unbecoming and uncalled for".

Their behaviour was a violation of Parliamentary traditions, she told reporters. "I condemn their behaviour in strong terms."

On the Opposition's demand for releasing independent MLA Raja Bhaiyya, she said he had a long criminal history.

Mayawati alleged the SP was a party of goons and mafias and this was the reason it was ousted from the power by the people in 2007.

On the Opposition demanding her scalp, she said there were less cases of harassment of women in UP than in other states.

Calling for sacking of the Mayawati government, Leader of the Opposition Shivpal Yadav told reporters: "There is total goondaraj (goons rule) in the state and the Governor should immediately dismiss the government."